Manhattan Sentence Correction Query.

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Manhattan Sentence Correction Query.

by Phoenix22 » Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:44 pm
I encountered this Question while appearing MGMAT CAT today:

Scientific language often employs common words in ways that clash with the general usage, such as "temperate"; this term is generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, but climatologists use it in regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh, and extreme climatic variation.

A)often employs common words in ways that clash with the general usage, such as "temperate"; this term is generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, but climatologists use it in regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh
B)often employs common words in ways that clash with their general usage; for instance, the term "temperate," which in general usage refers to mild, pleasant weather, is used by climatologists to describe regions with hot summers, harsh winters
C)employs common words often and in ways that clash with general usage; specifically, the term "temperate" is generally used for mild, pleasant weather, and by climatologists to refer to regions with hot summers, harsh winters
D)employs common words in ways that often clash with general usage, as when climatologists use "temperate," a term generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, to characterize regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh
E)employs common words in ways that often clash with their general usage; climatologists in particular use the term "temperate" -- which generally refers to mild, pleasant weather -- in describing regions with hot summers and harsh winters.

Correct answer is B
While explaining why A is not the correct answer below explanation is given
The modifier "such as..." is separated from the noun that it actually describes ("common words") by an entire clause, so it is used incorrectly.
My Question:I could not get from which nouns "Such as " is separated from? I thought its placed correctly just before "temperate".
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by sameerballani » Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:14 pm
Option A
Scientific language often employs common words in ways that clash with the general usage, such as "temperate"; this term is generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, but climatologists use it in regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh, and extreme climatic variation.

Such as is used to introduce/give examples. So, it should be placed near the NOUN whose examples it is giving. Here the eg -> "Temperate" is for "Common Words". In the current sentence, there is some ambiguity for which such as being used.
Is it clash or words?? Ofcourse words, so place it near "Common words" ..
Moreover, you could have eliminated this option based on Parallelism ..

Phoenix22 wrote:I encountered this Question while appearing MGMAT CAT today:

Scientific language often employs common words in ways that clash with the general usage, such as "temperate"; this term is generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, but climatologists use it in regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh, and extreme climatic variation.

A)often employs common words in ways that clash with the general usage, such as "temperate"; this term is generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, but climatologists use it in regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh
B)often employs common words in ways that clash with their general usage; for instance, the term "temperate," which in general usage refers to mild, pleasant weather, is used by climatologists to describe regions with hot summers, harsh winters
C)employs common words often and in ways that clash with general usage; specifically, the term "temperate" is generally used for mild, pleasant weather, and by climatologists to refer to regions with hot summers, harsh winters
D)employs common words in ways that often clash with general usage, as when climatologists use "temperate," a term generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, to characterize regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh
E)employs common words in ways that often clash with their general usage; climatologists in particular use the term "temperate" -- which generally refers to mild, pleasant weather -- in describing regions with hot summers and harsh winters.

Correct answer is B
While explaining why A is not the correct answer below explanation is given
The modifier "such as..." is separated from the noun that it actually describes ("common words") by an entire clause, so it is used incorrectly.
My Question:I could not get from which nouns "Such as " is separated from? I thought its placed correctly just before "temperate".
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by Phoenix22 » Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:43 pm
Thanks for your reply.... I think I got why A is wrong but I still have a query about why B is correct.

if "such as" is used to introduce/give examples and it needs to be placed near the NOUN whose examples it is giving, then why this rule does not apply to "for instance". What is the difference between "such as" and "for instance"
sameerballani wrote:Option A
Scientific language often employs common words in ways that clash with the general usage, such as "temperate"; this term is generally used to refer to mild, pleasant weather, but climatologists use it in regions where summers are hot, winters are harsh, and extreme climatic variation.

Such as is used to introduce/give examples. So, it should be placed near the NOUN whose examples it is giving. Here the eg -> "Temperate" is for "Common Words". In the current sentence, there is some ambiguity for which such as being used.
Is it clash or words?? Ofcourse words, so place it near "Common words" ..
Moreover, you could have eliminated this option based on Parallelism ..

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by LanaFirefox » Fri Aug 16, 2013 4:33 am
Isn't it easier in this case to eliminate answers based on the end of the phrase
by looking at the end of the underlined portion and at the beginning of the non underlined portion? If "such as" is a puzzling concept for you, maybe find another decision point so that you can be sure about your answer? I could eliminate A,D and E right away. "...winters are harsh and extreme client variation" just doesn't make sense at all, because the items should be parallel with either "X,Y and Z" or "X is, Y is and Z is", but not the mix of the two. 10 seconds and I was left with B and C, because finding the mistake in A allows me to scan other answers that make the same mistake and eliminate them.

From there it is easy, because after comparing B and C, B shines like clear, concise and correct, whereas C looks weird and faulty. C starts with an illogical phrase "employs common words often and in such ways...". Connector "and" is not necessary. C also uses awkwardly sounding (but maybe only to my ear) "employs common words often" when clearer thought is expressed by "often employs common words" in B.
I am not an expert, so correct me if I am wrong :) but SC is my favorite part of verbal so maybe the approach helps nevertheless.

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